[thenightwriterblog] The Night Writer: Charmed, I'm sure

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Posted by The Night Writer:
Charmed, I'm sure
http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1172811471.shtml


   Last month I posted a brief review of the move [1]Everything is
   Illuminated because I like the unexpected, unconventional and
   beguiling nature of the story, the well-crafted scenes and
   performances, and the human insights that lingered in my mind for days
   afterward. I hadn't expected to like the movie all that much yet I was
   totally won over. Since then I've thought about some of my other
   all-time favorite movies and realized that many of these shared
   distinctive characteristics with this film. The stories aren't really
   related to each other, but they are all off-beat (non-formulaic)
   delights that surprised and charmed me and -- as we head into a snowy
   weekend -- I thought they might charm you as well.

   My top three favorite movies may shift from time to time, but [2]Local
   Hero will always be near the top of my list. Released in 1983, it
   stars Peter Reigert (post-Animal House) and Burt Lancaster and is
   directed by the estimable Scottish director Bill Forsyth (Gregory's
   Girl, Comfort and Joy). Like all of the movies here it has a light,
   whimsical streak running through it. The story is that a large Houston
   oil company sends one of its acquisition specialists, McIntyre, to a
   small Scots town to purchase the town and, especially, its deep water
   port that they want to turn into a refinery. Part of the joke is that
   Mac isn't even Scottish -- his ancestors adopted the name when they
   got off the boat from Hungary because it "sounded American".
   Devoted to his job and his lifestyle, Mac sets out to complete his
   mission as quickly as possible but finds himself becoming enchanted by
   the place and ambivalent about his task. One of the special twists of
   the story, however, is that rather than being outraged and protective
   of their community, the locals can't wait to sell it and become rich!
   There are several subplots as well and a great cast of characters
   (referring both to the actors and to the "townspeople" in the movie).
   The movie is quirky but not in a heavy-handed, off-putting way and it
   reveals itself little-by-little. The story is partly meant to be a
   commentary on American capitalism abroad, but this is done warmly and
   with wit; the scenes between Mac and an entreprenuerial Russian sailor
   are some of the best, though these are surpassed by Burt Lancaster's
   small but vital role. Beautiful scenery, a beautiful story, and did I
   mention that there's a mermaid as well?

   I always link [3]The Coca-Cola Kid with Local Hero in my mind because
   it also tells a comedic tale of what happens when American interests
   go abroad, but in a more allegorical manner. The screenplay is by an
   Australian and directed by a Yugoslavian, but culture clashes at the
   center of the movie, and the characterization of Becker (played by
   Eric Roberts in one of his less-twitchy roles) is more bemused than
   pointed. Becker is a hot-shot marketing guru from Coca-Cola, sent from
   Atlanta to Australia to boost sales in that country. (The movie was
   made without the fore-knowledge or blessing of Coca-Cola). When he
   discovers a populated valley in which absolutely no Coke has ever been
   sold he sets out to conquer, in the process meeting the patriarch of
   the valley, a cantankerous lord who bottles his own brand of soft
   drinks.
   Greta Scacchi plays the love interest, again, somewhat as an allegory,
   as are several other characters who come and go with their own
   perceptions and assumptions about Americans set up in contrast with
   Becker's assumptions of this new land. It's a funny and generally
   gentle story with great music, including a terrific Coke jingle that
   the company should have adopted in real life. It's a good companion
   movie to watch with Local Hero, but there are a couple of scenes with
   nudity so it's probably not for kids (though the story wouldn't be as
   interesting to them anyway).

   A movie that is ideal to watch with the whole family is [4]The Secret
   of Roan Inish. There are no big stars in the film, but it is directed
   by John Sayles, who's work I've liked since "The Return of the
   Secaucus Seven" (another off-beat charmer that was later ripped off by
   "The Big Chill"). The story focuses on Fiona, a young girl sent to
   live with her grandparents on the Irish coast after her mother dies
   and her father and brothers go to work in an industrialized city. Her
   grandparents still live near the island that was the home of Fiona's
   family going back several generations and the seat of the family's
   mystical history and the setting for the mysterious disappearance of
   Fiona's younger brother, Jamie, spirited away when he was an infant.
   While that sounds rather dark, the story is anything but as Fiona and
   her cousin find themselves gradually unwrapping the nearly forgotten
   ancient secrets of the family and the mystery of what happened to
   Jamie. Rest assured, there isn't a speck of evil in the story. In
   fact, one of the things that makes the film so unique in my mind is
   that it generates such a compelling drama without a single villain.
   The young actress who plays Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is amazing and
   easily carries the movie. I'm surprised that she hasn't gone on to do
   other movies ("Roan Inish" was released in 1995). It's a tremendous
   story of faith, love and character and an ideal experience for the
   whole family. Bake some bread, cook up a pot of soup, and eat while
   you watch the movie!

   This is another movie that took me by surprise when we first watched
   it. [5]The Emperor's New Clothes is a "what if" story about what might
   have happened if Napoleon had managed, through the use of a body
   double, to escape from Elba and make it back to France. Rest assured,
   however you think this might have turned out, you'll definitely be
   surprised by the story that unfolds. Ian Holm is fantastic as the two
   Napoleons and the story is a very funny and touching one with a bit of
   romance and adventure thrown in.
   I'm not sure why we even rented it in the first place, but I'm glad we
   did. While the premise sounds predictable, the story is delightfully
   original and veers away from the cliched scenes and character
   reactions that you might expect. It's not a "major" film but it is
   very entertaining with likeable characters and a seductive plot. If
   you rent it just sit back and relax and go with the story and you
   won't be disappointed.

References

   Visible links
   1. http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1170886803.shtml
   2. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305558205/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1/103-6290117-8335847
   3. http://www.amazon.com/Coca-Cola-Kid-Eric-Roberts/dp/B00005V9HU/sr=1-1/qid=1172808859/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6290117-8335847?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
   4. http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Roan-Inish-Jeni-Courtney/dp/B00004TJKJ/sr=1-1/qid=1172808711/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6290117-8335847?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
   5. http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-New-Clothes-Ian-Holm/dp/B00006RCN9/sr=1-1/qid=1172809359/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6290117-8335847?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

   Hidden links:
   6. file://localhost/files/thenightwriterblog-Local_Hero.jpg
   7. file://localhost/files/thenightwriterblog-Coca_Cola_Kid.jpg
   8. file://localhost/files/thenightwriterblog-Roan_Inish.jpg
   9. file://localhost/files/thenightwriterblog-Emperor's_New_Clothes.jpg